Ward told Bundy to leave the refuge, offering safe passage out of the county. Bundy declined the offer.

At a Friday morning press conference at the refuge, Bundy said, “We’ll take that offer, but not yet.”

Federal, state and local law authorities have been closely monitoring the situation at the refuge but have so far taken no action against Bundy and his followers, apparently to avoid a confrontation. Ward has been the most visible law enforcement authority during the occupation, and his strategy so far has been to try to show Bundy that locals oppose the occupation and want them to leave.

“How long will this go on? We say to you, ‘not a minute too early,’” Bundy said, according to the Associated Press.